"Robert Howes. Proud to have The NHS"

My name is Robert Howes and I am 48, and have had pins and needles in my left hand for a week on and off. This morning at 07.30 I started to feel a similar sensation in the left side of my face. I arrived at Broomfield A&E about 09.45. The lady at the reception was very polite and direct and to the point with her Q/A especially with how much time had elapsed. Then within 25 minuets I was seen by the male triage nurse, who then took my BP and asked more detailed questions to get a bigger picture of my symptoms. and assured me I would be seen quickly, as you can imagine I was quite stressed, and had all manor of things going through my mind. On returning to the waiting area, I was then called very quickly in by a nurse to a treatment room, she had a really calming and professional manner. She proceeded with a ECG, and drew bloods. I returned to the waiting room, and shortly afterwards I was called buy the female Doctor. The Doctor ran through the details of my symptoms, and then proceeded with a exam of my arm and face, to try and determine where exactly the numbness was,and the she continued with checking my movements and reflex. She then said that I would be seeing the stroke nurse, and be having a scan. I returned to waiting area and was called through by the stroke nurse, it could not have been more than twenty minuets. The nurse proceeded with more question and movement test to see if she could tell what exactly was going on. I retuned to the waiting room, and waited to be called. The Female doctor came and called me, and she took me to the scanning area, she told me on the walk over that my blood results were ok. I waited no more that ten minutes before I was called in for the scan. When the the scan was complete, the nurse in the scanning room walked me back to the A/E area. I returned to the waiting area. The doctor returned to get me for my final consultation. When we are in the treatment room I was told the scan was clear. A consultant came in and one look at my face and he said there was a infection under the left side of my face, and that was what was coursing the numbness. and my left arm he diagnosed potentially carpal tunnel. I was then prescribed a course of steroids for a week, and to follow up next week with a GP. It was such a relief the whole team are brilliant. I had only been there four and a half hours. and had been seen seven times. Thank you all so very much, I was cared for from beginning to end with the upmost professionalism, it make me proud to think that the NHS when asked, delivers no if's or buts, just an outstanding service.